Mystic is a small Appanoose County town northwest of Centerville, near Rathbun Lake. Top Notch Chimney Sweep & Services serves Mystic and the surrounding countryside. It’s a drive from the Des Moines metro, so we schedule visits down here ahead of time instead of offering same-day service. We’ve been working on chimneys in Iowa since 2002, and these are the questions homeowners ask us most.
Common Questions
How often does my chimney need to be swept?
Once a year is the standard recommendation for a wood-burning fireplace or stove. If you burn a lot, such as heating with a wood stove most of the winter, you may need it more often. A chimney sweeping removes creosote, the flammable residue smoke leaves on the inside of the flue, along with debris and nesting material.
I only use my fireplace a few times a year. Do I still need a sweep?
You still need it inspected. Light use means less creosote, but animals, leaves and weather don’t care how often you burn. A chimney that sits unused is a good spot for a nest, and a blocked flue can push smoke and carbon monoxide into the house the next time you light a fire.
What’s the difference between a Level 1 and Level 2 inspection?
A Level 1 inspection covers the parts of the chimney and fireplace we can readily access and is right for a system that’s working normally. A Level 2 adds a camera inspection of the flue’s interior. It’s recommended when a home is sold, when you change fuel or appliances, or after a chimney fire or bad storm. We do both. See our chimney inspection page for details.
What’s a flue liner, and why would it need replacing?
The liner is the inner layer of the chimney that contains heat and smoke. In older chimneys it’s often clay tile, which can crack with age, heat and moisture. A damaged liner can let heat reach wood framing and let gases leak into the home. Chimney relining restores a safe path for smoke to leave the house.
Will you make a mess in my house?
No. We use dust control and floor protection on every job, and we guarantee it.
Do you do anything besides chimneys?
Yes. We’re certified in dryer vent cleaning and air duct cleaning. A clogged dryer vent is a common cause of house fires and makes your dryer work much harder, so it’s worth adding to a chimney visit.
Who will actually be doing the work?
A family crew. Tom Hunkele has owned Top Notch since 2002 and is a Past President of the National Chimney Sweep Guild. Bob Stream is a CSIA Certified Sweep, and a Certified Chimney Professional rounds out the team.
Do you serve other towns nearby?
Yes, including Centerville and Corydon.
How Southern Iowa Weather Wears on a Chimney
Chimneys around Mystic go through the same hard cycle every winter. Water soaks into brick and mortar, freezes overnight and expands, then thaws and soaks in deeper. Each round opens cracks a little wider, and the crown on top usually shows it first.
The roofline is the other weak spot. Snow and ice settle against the chimney, and when they melt, water can work under flashing that’s lifted or poorly sealed. Wind-driven rain in spring and summer storms hits the same joint from the side. A stain on the ceiling or wall beside the chimney often means the flashing needs attention. See flashing repair.
Caps and Dampers Get Overlooked
From the ground, it’s easy to miss that a chimney cap has blown off or rusted out. Without it, rain runs straight into the flue, debris collects on the smoke shelf and animals have an open door. The stainless steel caps we install are backed by a lifetime warranty and keep all of that out.
Inside, the damper does its own job: it seals the fireplace when you’re not burning. Throat dampers commonly rust in place or break after years of use, and a damper that won’t close lets heat escape all winter. We replace both parts. More on chimney caps and dampers.
More Than the Fireplace
When we clean a dryer vent, we set up a powerful HEPA vacuum first, then use brushes designed for vent lines to loosen the lint so it gets pulled out instead of spread around. We also check the duct for damage and anything else that’s hurting airflow. A clean vent can cut the energy your dryer uses and helps it last longer.
Air ducts are the same idea on a bigger scale. The EPA has ranked indoor air quality among the top five environmental risks to public health, and dirty ductwork is part of that picture. Our air duct cleaning pulls built-up dust and debris out of the system. If you’d like ducts or a dryer vent done on your Mystic visit, mention it when you call.
Factory-Built Fireplaces Need Care Too
A prefab fireplace has a metal firebox with refractory panels, a metal flue and a chase cover on top instead of a masonry crown. The panels can crack with heat, and metal chase covers can rust or be damaged by animals and wind. Parts are specific to each unit, so repairs need the right replacement. We’ve worked on factory-built units from a variety of manufacturers and can usually track down what yours needs. If you burn wood in one, it still needs sweeping, since creosote builds in a metal flue the same way it does in clay tile.
When to Book a Mystic Visit
The easiest months to get on our calendar are April through August, our off-season. Spring and summer also give us the dry weather that crown, flashing and masonry repairs need. Once fall arrives, the phones get busy, so plan ahead if you want everything done before the first cold night.
Things That Mean Call Before the Next Fire
- A chimney fire, or even a suspected one
- Bits of clay tile or mortar showing up in the firebox
- Rust streaks on the outside of the chimney or on the damper
- Chipped or flaking brick near the top of the stack
- Scratching or chirping sounds from inside the flue
None of these fix themselves, and most get more expensive with another winter. If you’re seeing one now, hold off on using the fireplace and give us a call. We’ll talk through what you’re seeing and plan the visit around it. Photos help, too. Our virtual chimney assessment lets you send pictures of the chimney and fireplace for a first look, though it doesn’t replace an inspection.
Have a Question We Didn’t Answer?
Call us at (515) 249-6337. We’re happy to talk it through and get a Mystic visit on the calendar. You can also schedule online.
